Albert s



(N0 Model.)

, Ls. HODGE. AUTOMATIC RELIEF VALVE FOR RADIATORS.

No. 479,806. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

UNITE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT S. HODGE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO .I.HENRY HODGE, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC RELIEF-VALVE FOR RADIATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,806, dated August2, 1892. Application filed February 29, 1892. Serial No. 423,191- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, ALBERT S. HODGE, of Boston,in the county of Suffolk,State of Massach usetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Relief- Valves for Radiators, of which thefollowing is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enableany person skilled in the art or science to which said inventionappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved reliefvalve, representedinposition; Fig. 2, a

central vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, a like view taken on linea: a: in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a horizontal section taken on line y y, andFig. 5 a top plan view of the cap removed.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially to a valve automatically actuated by thesteam or water in a radiator for permitting the air to escape withoutthe accompanying escape of the water or steam; and it consists incertain novel features hereinafter-fully set forth and claimed, theobject being to produce a simpler, cheaper, and more eifective device ofthis character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understoodby all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A represents the wall of the radiator, in which thescrew-threaded nipple or base B of the valve-casing or shell isinserted. This brace comprises a casting provided with a duct 12 andhaving an interior annular rabbet or shoulder d, upon which thecylindrical shell C of the valve rests. The mouth of the duct b, openinginto said body, is contracted or of the same diameter as the outer endof the duct 11, the length of said mouthfbeing less than the diameter ofthe shoulder cl, as shown bestin Fig. 2. The cylinder 0 is disposed inverticalposition on said shoulder, as shown, its upper end being closedby a dome-shaped top g, secured to thebody by reaming and soldering.

Vithin the body and resting on the shoul- .cone-shaped valve-seat m.through the apex of said seat der d there is a cylinder D of hard rubberor similar material, which will readily expand from the heat of thesteam. Disposed within said rubber cylinder there is a metalliccylindrical float E. Said float is closed at both ends and is providedat its upper end with an annular laterally-projecting flange h, whichrests on the top of the expansible cylinder D and supports the floattherein. Said float fits loosely into the rubber cylinder, and theflange is provided with a series of notches '5, (shown in Fig. 4,) whichform air-passages from the interior of the rubber cylinder to the domeg. The dome g has disposed centrally in its top a screw-plugj, which maybe adjusted vertically therein. Said plug is tapped centrally in itslower. end, forming a A port p opens and discharges through the top ofthe plug. A valve comprises a rod q, fixed centrally to the top of thefloat E and having its upper end coneshaped to seat on said valve. Theouter end of the plug is provided with a tool-slot r, whereby it may beadjusted vertically. A tight-fitting cap 2f covers the plug and isprovided with vent-openings v for the escape of air, which passesthrough the valve.

In the use of my improvements the casting B is tapped into theradiator-tube A near its top. Steam being admitted to the radiator, theair therein is forced through the port I) and passes between the float Eand the eX- pansible cylinder D, thence through the notches i in thefloat-flange 7t,andoutthrough the valve at the top of the dome g. Thepressure of the steam in the radiator increasing as soon as the airhasescaped, as described, the heat thereof causes the rubber cylinder D toexpand longitudinally, forcing the valvestem q against its seat m,closing the port 17 and preventing the escape of steam. As the water ofcondensation in the pipe is frequently forced upward by thesteam-pressure, should it pass into the body 0 it will cause the floatto rise independently of the expanding cylinder D and close the valve m.By thus permitting the air to escape the throbbing or cracking noiseincident to the admission of steam to the radiators is avoided.Moreover, the escape of water common to the use of the ordinary petcockis prevented. By forming the mouth f of the port I) so that it opensentirely within the cylinder D the steam is prevented from passingbetween said cylinder and the casing C, and has the additional effect oftending to elevate the float while the cylinder is expanded.

Having thus explained myinvention, what I claim is- 1. A relief valvemechanism for radiators, comprising a casing, a connection opening intothe bottom thereof from the radiator, a tube of expansible materialdisposed around the mouth of said connection, a flanged float supportedby said tube, having air-openings in said flange, a valve-seat in thetop of said casing, and a valve on said float, adapted to engage saidseat, all being arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. In a relief-valve for radiators, a cylinder of heat-expansiblematerial disposed within the valve-casing around the inlet, avalveseating in said casing, and a float secured to said valve andpendent within said cylinder, said float being so disposed that airexpelled from the radiator may pass between it and said cylinder,substantially as described.

3. The connection B, provided with the duct b, a casing supported onsaid connection and provided with the relief-valve seat, a cylinder ofexpansible material disposed within the casing around the mouth of saidduct, and a float pendent within said cylinder and bearing a valveadapted to engage said seat, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the connection, a casingprovided with the adjustable plug j, and the valve-seat m and port 19,in combination with the expansible cylinder and the pendent floattherein bearing a valve adapted to engage said seat, all being arrangedto operate substantially as described.

5. The connection and easing provided with the adjustable valve-seat, incombination with the hard-rubber cylinder D, and the float E, pendenttherein and bearing a valve adapted to engage said seat, substantiallyas described.

6. The connection and casing provided with the adj ustable valve-seat,in combination with the expansible cylind r D, and the closed float E,having the notched supporting-flange h and bearing a valve adapted toengage said seat, all being arranged to operate substantially asspecified.

7. In a device of the character described, the connection and casing, incombination with the adjustable plugjin said casing, provided with thevalve-seat and port, the expansible cylinder disposed around the inletin said connection, the closed float E, disposed within said cylinderand provided with the flange h, having the notches t", and the valve qon said float, adapted to engage said seat, substantially as described.

ALBERT S. HODGE. W'itnesses:

O. M. SHAW, K. DURFEE.

